Book of Revelation

• Matthew
• Markus
• Luke
• John

• Roman
• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians
• Galatians
• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• 1 Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy
• Titus
• Philemon
• Hebrew

• Epistle of James
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter
• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John
• Judas

The Book of Revelation (Rev 1.1: Greek: ἀποκάλυψις apokalypsis, literally " revelation " ) is the last book of the Christian New Testament. It is his only through prophetic book, while a consolation and hope font for the oppressed Christians in the Roman Empire.

John is intended as a first-person narrator in the form of a letter first to seven churches in Asia Minor in the eastern hinterland of Ephesus. These were theologically influenced by the Apostle Paul, and now suffered from persecution or at least under severe restrictions. The font should also be appreciated quite fundamentally as a " revelation of Jesus Christ " and wants the divine plan of salvation revealed to encourage parishioners to oppose the Roman imperial cult and hope for the imminent return of Christ and the final judgment ( 1.1 EU ).

The revelation is divided since the Middle Ages in Chapter 22.

Author

In the early church it was felt since the second century, that it is the first-person narrator to John the Apostle John (John 21:2) and the author of the Gospel of John, so John the Evangelist IN QUESTION. In the Eastern Church this was controversial, and the revelation not long been considered canonical.

Papias († 140 ) wrote the book an apostolic origin to, as Justin Martyr († 165 ). " Furthermore one who was with us, John was called and was one of the apostles of Christ, prophesied in a revelation," says Irenaeus expressly states that the Apostle John was the author of Revelation, also Clement of Alexandria ( † 215 ) and Tertullian ( † after 220) confirm this Origen († 254 ) wrote: "John finally, the location on Jesus' breast, left a Gospel [ ... ] He wrote the Apocalypse. "

This view is in today's continental European exegesis virtually no longer represented (but see below dating). The arguments advanced in content and form deviations are given. The author of Revelation do not take Paul's apostolic authority comparable claim for themselves. He calls it " three times his name " (1.4 EU 9EU; 22.8 EU), while avoiding the author of the Gospel of John to give his name.

The author is now regarded by the majority as early Christian prophet who is one of a group of prophets; he speaks of his " brethren the prophets " ( 22.9 EU). Language and thought world point to an origin from the Palestinian Jewish Christianity. In the text itself he describes that he was living on the island of Patmos in front of Ephesus in exile ( 1.9 ). Hence the name of this John the Revelation in the English language also John of Patmos ( John of Patmos ).

Receiver

The script is written in the form of a letter and addressed to the seven letters to the seven churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea (1.11 EU). The Beatitudes and the book statements and the symbolism of the number seven suggest, however, to accept another target group.

Dating

The dating of Revelation is disputed in research. Both for a late dating ( 81-96 ) as well as for an early ( 68-69 ) there are serious reasons. "Even the Church Fathers were divided on the issue Nero or Domitian ," some even representing both views, albeit in different typefaces.

Late dating

The assumption that the disclosure of which is originated in the reign of Domitian (about 95 ), based on early church writers such as Viktorin, Jerome, Irenaeus and Eusebius, who report that John was at the time of Domitian to Patmos been. Since the banishment of John but possibly started earlier, the answer to the dating question depends not necessarily on the question of authorship. As a supporting argument for the late dating of the political situation is suggested that the will provided in the disclosure: While Rome still appears in Acts as a state power that Paul preserved thanks to his Roman citizenship, Rome is in Revelation purely negative connotations ( " Whore of Babylon ", Rev. 17 EU). This argument speaks at least as of the time of Nero; because under Domitian was no large-scale persecution of Christians held under Nero does.

Early dating

The assumption that the book is to be dated to the end of the reign of Nero (about 65-68 ), holds the indication in Irenaeus neither clear nor necessarily reliable. Clement of Alexandria writing, however, clear that the revelations made to the Apostles " under Nero left off ." Since Clemens now the apostle John clearly held to be the author of Revelation, this means that after Clemens ' opinion also ended the revelations of John under Nero.

Thomas Schirrmacher points out that the unnamed Clemens tyrant could only describe the tyrant par excellence. In addition, John would have if they wanted to believe Clemens ' other statements made ​​long journeys after the exile, between his 90th and 100th year of life, from Ephesus, would be " running and riding at full gallop ." This is, however, difficult to imagine for an old man.

Among exegetes, however, is virtually undisputed that the animal is to be identified with the number 666 with Emperor Nero. If you count namely, the numerical values ​​of the Hebrew letters of his name ( נרון קסר neron kesar ) together, we arrive at 666 Encryption is however - as the argument for the early date - only have been necessary and useful, while Nero was still alive. Were alone on Nero as the only Roman emperor more number riddles handed. Some uncertainty remains that perhaps a later emperor could be meant as a resurrected Nero.

Friedrich Engels dated the font in the period immediately after Nero, in the reign of Emperor Galba, June 9, 68 to 15 January 69 He interpreted the seven heads of the beast ( the Antichrist ) as a Roman emperor. After a circulating rumor was time to Galba namely Nero ( the sixth main ) died only ostensibly, but live in reality and will post the seventh main ( Galba ) once again return as the eighth main (Rev 17.8 to 11 EU).

Content

The book contains the final ( 22.18 f EU) a prophetic announcement of disaster for those who change the text of the book in any way.

Motifs

The Apocalypse is a coherent allegorical composition that the contemporary mainstream, but not necessarily biblical, symbol values ​​of animals, colors and numbers uses. The author engages circumferentially back to the Old Testament prophecy (especially the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel and the book of Daniel ) and their imagery. Even early Jewish apocalyptic motifs are present in many places. The interpretation of individual images or narratives is often controversial. For example, the following references could be made:

• 4 represents a cosmic totality
• 7 stands for perfection. Accordingly, the addressed seven churches can be seen as representative of all Christendom.
• The 3.5 stands for the second half of last year week (see Daniel, chap. 11 and 12)
• The 12 is referable to the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the twelve disciples of Jesus
• 42 months in which the animal is to have power over the earth, represent half of a seven-year Sabbath year cycle
• 666 is the numerical value that encodes the name of the beast (Rev 13.17 to 18 EU)
• The dragon represents Satan
• The beast from the sea can be related to the " end-time totalitarian state power "
• The beast from the land can be understood as a " personification of the political propaganda machine ."

Canonization

The revelation was very controversial in the early Church, especially in the eastern parts of the Roman Empire. Various Church Fathers spoke out against the inclusion of the book in the canon of the Bible and spoke of a forgery, such as Gaius (around 200 AD in Rome. ), Of which Eusebius ( Church History 3:28):

"At the aforementioned time lived, as we learned, Cerinthus, the leader of another heresy. Gaius, whom we have already quoted above, wrote about him in his investigation: And Cerinthus gives us revelations give the impression as if they were written by a great apostle, whimsical reports, of which he falsely stated that she him had been given by angels. He says that after the resurrection the kingdom of Christ will be on earth and that the bodies of living in Jerusalem, and in turn passions and pleasures will indulge. And contrary to the scriptures of God, and in seductive intention, he stated that a period of a thousand years will elapse in joyous wedding celebration. ' "

It was not until the 39th Easter Letter of Athanasius (367), the Apocalypse of almost all former Christians in the West is recognized as a valid part of the Bible canon. In the current Eastern Churches, the disclosure will never read as only New Testament Scripture in worship. Since the liturgy as a whole is understood as a revelation, this means in practice is not a full canonical status of revelation. The Syrian Orthodox Church recognizes at all to the Book of Revelation and prints it not also reflected in their Bibles.

Textual tradition and style

Perhaps because of the discussion about their canonicity of Revelation was written off rare than the other books of the New Testament. Of the 320 received uncials offers only a dozen texts from Revelation and also on very few the whole text.

The Greek of Revelation is mixed with Semitisms and deviates frequently from the usual grammar of Koine. In the style and choice of words to show differences to all other books of the New Testament. In addition, action was taken in the textual tradition because of the difficult interpretable statements in copying more often than usual; accordingly show strong variations in the transmitted text stock. Of all the books of the New Testament is the book with the largest text-critical problems.

Reception and performance history

Become part of everyday vocabulary are the phrases:

• Book with seven seals, Rev 5
• The A and O refers to Rev 22:13: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. "
• Lamb of God: Christ as the Lamb of God is called in the liturgy and has become a common motif in art.

Was in the east and the apocalypse is little noted in the West view of Scripture was positive. Nevertheless, the Christian theologians argue about the importance of the Book of Revelation until today. Both her ​​character as a revelation of Scripture and several theological statements were and are problematic. Martin Luther also knew her to start little: " My mind does not want to send in this book."

Was with theological laymen and the effect of the Apocalypse of John is always very large. In various groups and again the term of the millennium played a special role, which was even reinterpreted politically under National Socialism. Today, the revelation of chiliastic particularly in the understanding of faith groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Christadelphians and Adventist is considered.

In addition to the books of Daniel and Ezekiel, the eschatological discourses of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels, as well as the First and Second Thessalonians Paul the Book of Revelation greatest influence on the development of Christian eschatology has exercised.

The American theologian Charles C. Ryrie has identified four different traditions of interpretation: The preterist, the historic, the idealistic and futuristic or literal interpretation. The Preterism assume that the statements of Revelation have already been fulfilled in the first Christian centuries. The historical interpretation assume that the history of the church will foreshadowed in Revelation. For the idealist interpretation of the revelation is a pictorial representation, which aufzeige spiritual principles. The futuristic design of the book from chapter 4 will be interpreted as a report not yet arrived today events.

Non- Theological Interpretations

The imagery of Revelation has inspired over the centuries, not only the Church Fathers and theologians of various churches and sects, but also secular writers and artists to look for interpretations. The interpretive framework is here very broad, due to the assumption that a scientific explanation of pure prophecies already can not meet. For example, the author Daniel Rubin Star prides to have recognized a so-called mysteries of language in the texts and decoded from about 700 symbols and their temporal sequence. Would appear to correspond approximately the first six seals and first six trumpets twelve spiritual and social bonds that lead to the disenfranchisement of citizens in today's time and rob him of his social and financial freedoms. More psychological, political and social interpretations arise in abundance.

Friedrich Engels ( "Christianity was like every great revolutionary movement, was made by the masses " ) interpreted the revelation in a Marxist sense as " authentic picture of an almost primitive Christianity."